Online Security

Is Your Favorite Chrome Extension a Hidden Security Risk? Here’s How to Check You probably have a handful of Chrome extensions you use daily—a grammar checker, a password manager, a tab organizer, maybe a coupon finder. They’re convenient, often free, and seem harmless. But in the past year, security researchers have documented a troubling pattern: some of the most popular “productivity tools” on the Chrome Web Store are quietly being used as entry points into personal and business accounts. ...

Five Things You Should Never Tell an AI Chatbot – For Your Own Financial Safety Intro AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot have become everyday tools for answering questions, drafting emails, and even brainstorming ideas. But as these tools integrate deeper into our lives, a Washington Post column this week warned users about a less discussed risk: the sensitive personal data you might inadvertently hand over. According to the column and supporting research, sharing certain types of information with a chatbot can put your money and identity at risk. Here’s what to keep out of the chat window. ...

The Hidden Danger of Chrome Extensions: How ‘Productivity Tools’ Can Spy on You If you use Chrome, you probably have a handful of extensions installed. Maybe a password manager, an ad blocker, a grammar checker, or something that helps you save articles to read later. They seem harmless, even helpful. But over the past year, security researchers have documented a steady rise in malicious extensions that look like legitimate productivity tools but quietly steal data, inject ads, or act as backdoors into corporate networks. ...

The Best To-Do List Apps of 2026 (and How to Keep Your Tasks Private) Your to-do list might seem harmless—just a list of errands, deadlines, or project steps. But think about what else it contains: your daily routines, work contacts, location data if you add tags, and sometimes even passwords or personal notes stored in descriptions. That seemingly mundane data can reveal a lot about your life, and not all to-do list apps treat it with the same care. ...

Keep Your Money Safe: Five Things Never to Tell Your AI Chatbot If you use ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, or any other AI chatbot for daily tasks, you’re not alone. These tools are incredibly convenient for drafting emails, summarizing documents, or brainstorming ideas. But that convenience comes with a privacy catch: anything you type into a chatbot can be stored, analyzed, and in some cases, exposed to third parties. As more people turn to AI for help with budgeting, shopping, or even tax prep, the risk of oversharing sensitive financial information has grown sharply. ...

The Long Con: How “Pig Butchering” Scams Work and How to Protect Yourself You meet someone new online. The conversation starts casually, perhaps on a social media platform or a dating app. Over weeks or even months, a genuine-seeming friendship or romance blossoms. They share details about their life, ask about yours, and the connection feels real. Then, eventually, the topic turns to money—a can’t-miss investment opportunity, a sudden personal crisis, or a complex financial favor. If you engage, you may become the latest victim of a “pig butchering” scam, a devastating fraud that is seeing a sharp rise, prompting warnings from officials like the New York Attorney General. ...

The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How to Spot It and Protect Your Money You receive a friendly, seemingly accidental message. A wrong number, perhaps, or a new connection on social media. The conversation starts casually, but over weeks or months, it evolves. Your new contact is personable, shares stories of their success, and eventually reveals an “exclusive” investment opportunity with incredible returns. This is the opening act of a devastating financial fraud known as “pig butchering,” and authorities like New York Attorney General Letitia James are urging the public to be on high alert. ...

The “Pig Butchering” Scam: How Fraudsters Fatten Victims Before the Slaughter You get a friendly, unexpected message on social media, a dating app, or even your phone. It seems harmless—a wrong number, a shared interest, or a potential new connection. Over weeks or months, a relationship builds. They’re sympathetic, engaging, and talk often about their financial success. Then, an “opportunity” arises: a chance to invest in cryptocurrency or another venture with incredible returns. If you’ve experienced this, you may be the target of a ruthless long-con known as a “pig butchering” scam. ...

The Latest Scam Playbook and How to Shield Yourself Each year, scams grow more sophisticated, targeting our wallets and personal information through increasingly believable lies. During the recent National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a webinar to cut through the noise and highlight the most prevalent and damaging scam trends affecting consumers right now. The insights from this session are a crucial update for anyone looking to protect themselves and their families from financial fraud. ...

FTC Warns of Rising Scam Tactics: How to Stay Protected The landscape of fraud is constantly shifting, with scammers refining their tactics to exploit new technologies and current events. To mark National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently hosted a webinar highlighting the latest trends in consumer scams. The session served as a critical reminder that vigilance is a year-round necessity, not just during awareness campaigns. While specific data from the webinar is still being disseminated, the overarching themes provide a clear picture of where threats are growing and how you can defend yourself. ...